The dermatology consultation

1 The dermatology consultation



INTRODUCTION


The initial, most important step in achieving a satisfactory consultation and management of any dermatological condition is to obtain a thorough history. Taking short cuts in this step can lead to a misdiagnosis, affect the welfare of the animal, and add a lot of unnecessary expense and dissatisfaction for the owner.


The history should be obtained in a logical fashion, with the view of building up a picture of the condition and a list of differential diagnoses, while examining the patient. This book shows how to work up a case in this manner.


With computerized records in most practices, the age at onset, breed and sex of the individual animal should be readily available. This information provides some useful clues when formulating a list of differential diagnosis.


Age at onset:







Breed predispositions:






Sex: Note whether the individual is entire or neutered. This is of particular interest when dealing with skin conditions associated with sex-hormone imbalance. There are few other skin conditions where sexual predispositions are recognized.



HISTORY TAKING


History taking is divided into those enquiries that relate specifically to the skin’s condition and those about the general history and management of the animal. In general practice, because time is limited, you could combine some of the questioning with the examination of the animal. If the condition is recurrent, much of the history will already be available on records and will just need confirmation from the owner.


Specific history – key questions:












Non-specific history: You should include questions relating to the animal’s general health and management, and you may need to ask more specific questions as you build up a picture of the condition.


General health – key questions:






Stay updated, free articles. Join our Telegram channel

Sep 3, 2016 | Posted by in SMALL ANIMAL | Comments Off on The dermatology consultation

Full access? Get Clinical Tree

Get Clinical Tree app for offline access